The Meaning of Life

A video called “The Meaning of Life” from Sam Harris as he ponders life, death & the present moment. This version of the original lecture by Sam Harris was produced by Jody Mac and overlaid with music.

Harris says that essentially everything we do is for the purpose of altering consciousness. We form friendships so that we can feel certain emotions, like love, and avoid others, like loneliness. Likewise, we eat specific foods to enjoy their presence on our tongues. We read for the pleasure of thinking another person’s thoughts. In every waking moment (and dream moments too) we struggle to do one thing. That one thing is to direct the flow of sensation, emotion, and cognition toward states of consciousness that we value.